Prominent Political Leaders in Jammu and Kashmir Face Electoral Test in Second Phase of Elections
On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, many prominent political figures from Jammu and Kashmir will face a critical test in the second phase of elections for 26 Assembly segments.
Among the key candidates is former Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah, whose political future will be decided by voters in the Ganderbal and Budgam constituencies. Both constituencies witnessed intense campaigning in the run-up to the elections. Mr. Abdullah faces tough competition with 16 candidates in Ganderbal and seven in Budgam. Having lost the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year to jailed candidate Sheikh Abdul Rashid (Engineer Rashid) from the Baramulla constituency, and with NC president Dr. Farooq Abdullah opting out of the elections due to health concerns, it is crucial for Omar Abdullah to secure a seat in the 90-member Assembly of the Union Territory.
In Srinagar district, Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra’s political fate lies in the hands of voters in the Central Shaltengh constituency, where he faces 12 candidates. Karra’s candidacy is supported by his ally, the NC.
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party founder Altaf Bukhari is making his electoral debut from the Chanapora Assembly segment, where he is competing against seven other candidates, including those from the NC and the PDP.
In south Kashmir’s Beerwah constituency, 17-year-old Sugra Barkati, daughter of jailed cleric Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, has captured significant voter attention, particularly from women. Her emotional speeches and rallies about her parents’ detention have upended poll predictions for major political parties, including former legislator Nazir Khan.
In the Jammu region, BJP State president Ravinder Raina will seek re-election from the Nowshera seat near the Line of Control (LoC). He faces stiff competition from NC’s Surinder Kumar Choudhary and PDP’s Haq Nawaz.
Meanwhile, former minister and ex-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali, now with the BJP, is contesting from the Budhal constituency in the Pir Panjal valley. His main rivals are his nephew, Javed Iqbal Choudhary of the NC, and PDP’s Guftar Ahmad. Javed Iqbal, the son of Mr. Ali’s elder sister, previously demonstrated his electoral strength by winning the Block Development Council (BDC) elections in 2020. His wife, Shazia Kouser, also won the District Development Council (DDC) elections from the same area.
A total of 239 candidates, including 233 male and six female candidates, are vying for positions in the second phase of the elections.
